Senior Governance / Financial Management Specialist at World Bank Group

The World Bank Group – Established in 1944, the WBG is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located globally.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Sr Governance / Financial Management Specialist

Job #: req5550
Location: Abuja
Grade: GG
Sector: Governance
Term Duration: 3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges.
The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

Governance Global Practice

The Governance Global Practice helps countries build capable, effective, accountable, transparent and inclusive institutions that deliver citizen-centric services, facilitate private-sector growth and build trust in Government.
Our work program comprises six core Business Lines:
- Public Financial Management (PFM),
- Domestic Revenue Mobilization (DRM)/Tax Administration,
- State-owned Enterprises and Corporate Governance,
- Public Institutions Reform,
- Decentralization and Sub-national Governance, and
- Financial Management Fiduciary Assurance for Bank-financed Operations; as well as three Cross-Cutting Themes: GovTech, Anti-Corruption and Political Economy.

EA2G2 Unit & Program in Nigeria

The EA2G2 Unit covers the Governance Global Practice program in Nigeria, Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, and Central African countries (Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Republic of Congo).
The position is focused on providing Financial Management (FM) fiduciary assurance for Bank-financed operations in Nigeria, which comprises one of the largest World Bank portfolios across the world, with net commitments of over US$ 10 billion in operations implemented by over 170 project implementation units across all states.
As such, the position requires strong hands-on advisory and operational contributions to the fiduciary arrangements of Program for Results (PforRs) and Investment Project Financing (IPF), and strengthening of associated sector FM systems.

Africa Region:

The Africa Region, which is comprised of approximately 900 staff members, mostly based in 38 field offices, is committed to helping Africa realize its considerable development potential, with a focus on employment generation.
While the overall business climate in Africa is the weakest in the world, several countries including some fragile states have made great strides in improving their environment for business. What is emerging as a result is a growing region, with setbacks from time to time, that is increasingly seen as a destination for investment as much as for aid; and one where leaders are increasingly willing to address problems of poor governance that harms development effectiveness.

World Bank Africa: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr

You will be under the supervision of the Governance Practice Manager for the EA2G2 Unit and will work in coordination with other EA2G2 team members based in HQ and the field, as well as colleagues from Procurement, other Global Practices, Finance & Accounting (Loans),and from the Nigeria Country Management Unit (CMU) – AFCW2.

Responsibilities

Provide high quality FM fiduciary assurance services, including assessing the adequacy of operations’ FM arrangements, providing FM implementation support and supervising operations financed by loans and grants, ensuring compliance with the Bank’s audit and other FM requirements, performing analytical work on FM and accountability issues, and carrying out capacity building activities, all with due attention to quality assurance arrangements.
Promote effective reliance on country systems as deemed appropriate, greater use of technology for fiduciary due diligence and implementation support, and streamlining of FM and disbursement processes.
Provide advice and support to other World Bank sector operations and policy dialogue related to sector public financial management systems and institutions.
Generate and exchange knowledge relating to FM issues.
Support the Practice Manager in work program discussions, business development and supervising the quality and timeliness of work program deliverables.
Contribute to corporate tasks such as the preparation of country briefs and inputs to thematic notes.

Selection Criteria

You will be a professional with solid operational experience on lending and non-lending instruments by the World Bank and / or other multilateral lending institutions, including trust-funded and result-based lending.
Qualified professional accountant (CPA, CA, ACCA or equivalent membership of an internationally recognized professional accountancy body) with a Master’s degree in accounting, public financial management, finance, or another related field.
At least 8 years of relevant experience.
Directly relevant experience and knowledge in FM fiduciary assurance services.
Strong knowledge of public financial management systems.
Strong experience in World Bank or other multi-lateral development banks’ operations.
Experience in quality control of the outputs of junior staff and consultants.
Strong team player with the ability to work independently and effectively both remotely and face-to-face.
Strong integrative skills.
Fluency in English.
Work experience in fragile and conflict-afflicted environments desired.